Page 98 of Petals and Strings
“I’m terrified that I was at fault, that I’m a bad person and just don’t remember it.”
“I have my doubts on that, from these notes alone,” Ares said. “I tried not to read into the session notes, but your general admission notes state this pack dropped you off with no remorse. Moved on. Something happened, but I don’t think it was your fault, Kane.”
The beta shrugged, fidgeting in his seat. “Her face has been haunting me for years. I can see it clearly, but it’s never smiling. She’s always looking elsewhere, though I have no clue what she’s looking at.”
“Or who,” Ledger offered gently. Kane glanced over and nodded in agreement.
“Likely the rest of the pack. I know there were others but they are far more vague," he explained. “I don’t even have flashes or know how many. Not even what they looked like.”
“When you close your eyes and sink into those feelings. Do you feel unsafe?”
Kane let his eyelids flutter closed. His mouth was set in a grim line and I couldn’t stand it anymore, I had to move. As quietly as I could, I stood up and tapped Rydell on the knee, gesturing to my chair. He didn’t hesitate to swap with me. I didn’t touch him, worried it might not go well. Instead, I just sat close, hoping my presence was enough for the moment.
“Yes,” he finally said. “The feeling of flying, then impact. Pain.”
My hands curled into fists at the thought of anyone harming this sweet beta.
“Why did they throw you?” Ares asked. The way his voice was deeper now, steady, helped push Kane deeper than he ever had before.
“Weak. Beta. Useless.” Kane’s voice deepened, a twisted malice mixing in.
I didn’t realize I was growling until Caspian rested a hand on my shoulder. It took everything in me to stay in my chair and not snatch the folder, committing every name associated with him to memory.
Something shifted in his head, his face going pale and his hands bunching in his clothes, fists clenched tightly.
“What are you feeling now, Kane? Describe it.”
“We didn’t need you. You were never part of the pack, just there out of necessity. Time is up, beta.” His voice was deeper again as he mimicked the voice in his head.
My heart shattered at the realization of what this meant.
He was never the problem and was doomed from the start.
When those amber brown eyes finally popped open, he sought me out, his words cracking with unfiltered pain.
“It wasn’t my fault. They left me, Audrey. Bit me, claimed me, then tossed me aside, didn’t they?”
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered as I wrapped my arms around him, holding him tight as he fought through the pain and devastation that made him shake in my embrace. I wasn’t ashamed to admit that I cried with him, his pain was mine, too.
“They fucking left me. Broke me on purpose.”
“That’s because they were the monsters, not you. You never deserved any of that my sweet beta. Never. We’ve got you now. No one will ever toss you aside again. You matter.”
“Promise me,” he begged. “Promise me that I belong. That you’re mine.”
“I promise, Kane. You’re my beta, my pack, and I’m never letting you go.”
He choked out a loud sob, tears soaking through my shirt.
Movement to the side was followed by a hand resting on his back. I glanced up to see Ansel leaning in, hugging Kane from behind.
“We’ve got you,” he promised. “Our pain brings us together. We belong together as a pack. It’s only whole with you here.”
Kane’s hand wrapped around Ansel’s arm, squeezing gently in acknowledgment, words escaping him as he fell apart.
When the omega moved back, the alphas moved in. Even Rydell joined, a strong hand resting on the top of his head. In fact, it was him who spoke up first.
“Fuck them, Kane. They were the problem and we all know your character and your worth. They will pay for what they’ve done. The world always has a way of making sure of that.”
